Power press flywheel bearing lubricating system



April 15, 1952 P. H. DA'NLY ETAL POWER PRESS FLYWHEEL BEARING LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed March 30, 1949 w. &w# mi 2 N4% m W 0 T N .E A a lk mm 5 mm. v: B

,Patentecl Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES AT I OFF POWER PRESS FLYWHEEL BEARING LUBRICATIN G S-Y STEM Philo H; Danly, Hinsdalc, and Vasil Georgeff,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to Danly Machine Specialties, Inc., Chicago, 111.,

Illinois a corporation of Application March so, 1949, Serial No. 84,386

Our invention relates to a power press flywheel bearing lubricating system, and more particularly to an improved lubricating system for power I press flywheels, in which a lubricant is continuously circulated to the flywheel bearing.

vThis application is an improvement over'our' co-pending application, Serial No. 16,898, filed March 25, 1948, now Patent No. 2,565,750.

Power presses are employed for forming or shaping metal. 'They are expensive pieces of equipment andare often included in a produc Not only is it desirable to lengthen their life by proper lubrication, but if failure tion line;

" 6 Claims. (Cl.1846) I, w

a power press, in which aulubricant is comma;

ously circulated both during the working cycle of the press and at periods of rest, in a manner in which all oil seals are eliminated.

Other and further objects of our invention will" appear from the following description: I

In general, our invention contemplates a structure enabling us to introduce lubricating oil under pressure through a ductto a flywheel bearing and continuously to drain lubricating oil therefrom in a manner to supply adequate lubricating oil to a flywheel bearing, not only to lubricate it, but also to carry heat away from it. The inlet duct of the bearing structure is made smaller in diamwheel bearings have been lubricated'by a grease as distinguished from a more fluid lubricant, such as a lubricating oil. The grease was supplied to the flywheel bearing by means of a grease cup.

If insufficient pressure is applied to thegrease, in-

sufficient lubrication frequently results. If too much pressure is applied to the grease, the grease seals are apt torupture and thus permit the grease to leak on to the-clutch surfaces-and cause.

slipping. When this occurs a major repair task is required to' disassemble the clutch and replace the ruptured grease seals, and either cleaner replace the clutch lining and the clutch surfaces. Furthermore, increased pressure of the grease will increase the heat generatedby theflywheel bearing I In our co-pending application, Serial No. 16,898,

mentioned above, we have shown a construction which provides a positive safe and continuous means of supplying a lubricant to the flywheel bearings of power presses, in which a lubricating oilis continuously circulated. In our prior construction we provided packing rings which,

though "satisfactory, fter prolonged periods of use were subject to replacement. f I

One object'of this invention is to provide a lubricating system for flywheel bearingsof power presses, in which a labyrinth packing, making use of dynamic forces and of gravity, is employed,

whereby no wear will bexperienced, making it unnecessary to replace the packing materials.

Another object'of our invention is to provide a "circulating oil'system for a flywheel bearing of eter than the outlet duct in order to preclude the building up of an excessive level of oil which would overflow the dams, provided to prevent the oil from leaking, in absence of the use of oil-seals which we eliminate by our construction. We provide labyrinth packing adapted to co-act with flinger rings adapted to direct the oil through a return path in a manner to prevent it from leaking, and thus escaping to the working sur-" faces of the clutch and brake structures. 7 i

The accompanying drawing forms part of the instant specification and is to be read in'conjunction therewith, and shows a sectional elevation through a portion of a power press, showing the flywheel bearing and one embodiment of a lubri- I .cating system,

in accordance with our improvement.

More particularly referring now to' the drawing, a shaft I0 is rotatably carried by a pair of bearings, indicated generally by the reference nu'- merals I2 and I4. The bearing [2 is supported by a pillow block l6, carried by the press frame I8. The bearing [4 is carried by a pillow-block 29, supported by the press frame IB. The bearing I4 is comprised by an outer race 22 and inner race 24, and bearing rollers-26. The bearing 12 is constituted by an outer race 28, a pair of inner races 39] and 32, and two sets of bearing rollers 34 and 36. The flywheel 38 is mounted on a bear-" ing indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 $40, which comprises a pair of outer racslla'ndfl' ,and a pair of inner races 46 and 50, A spacer ring 52 maintains the outerraces 42 and liin'l Arr inner spacer ring 54" maintains the inner races 46 and EOinspacedf position. The clutch housing 56 is carriedby the flywheel38. The clutch member 58 is keyed to the shaft lllfor' rotation therewith; The clutch is set by admitting air behind the annularlpiston separated position.

60 to move the'clutc h plate 62;to clamp the member 58' betweenthe stationary clutch plate 64 and 3 the moveable clutch plate 62. A brake drum 60 is keyed to the shaft I by the key 68 and is adapted to be set by the band "I0.

Whenever the clutch is connected to the flywheel by the introduction of fluid under pressure through pipe I2, the band is automatically released and the shaft I0 rotates to drive the pinion 74, which meshes with the gear train of the press (not shown), to actuate the press,

as is well understood in the art. The flywheel 38 rotates continuously while the shaft I0 will rotate intermittently. Lubricant under pressure is introduced through an opening 16 from a source of oil by means of a pump (not shown). The oil flows into an annular, chamber I8, which feeds oil past the bearing rollers 36 and 34. An oil flinger ring 80 is secured to the shaft I0 and adapted to rotate therewith. At those times when the shaft I0 is not rotating, the fiinger ring 80 acts as a dam directing the oil into an annular chamber82, which communicates with the drain duct 8 4ada pted to drain into an annular drainage chamber 86 formed in the pillow blocl; I6. The annular chamber 86 is, drained by a drainage channel 88, with which a" pipe 90 communicates. This oil may be allowed to lubricate additional bearings and ultimately finds its waybaok toa sump (not shown), from which it is recirculated through an appropriate filter. The bearing His lubricated by oil introduced through the opening 92. shaft I0. and adapted to rotate therewith, acts as a. dam when the shaft Iilis not rotating. The, oil will flow. downwardly and drain through channel 9 0. Oil will also flow past the rollers 26 and then downwardly by gravity within an oil tight casing 90. This oil likewise drains to the sumpfor recirculation.

The oil from the annular chamber I8 also flows to the right, as viewed in the drawing, tl ronglrthe space I00 between the pillow block I6 and the shaft, lubricating the rollers 45 of the bearing 40. Oilfiows through the annular space between innerspacing ring54 and outer spacing ring 52 to lubricate the rollers SI of the bearing 40. A flinger ring I02 is secured to a ring I04 ca rried by'the shaft. When, the shaft isstatipnary'thering. I02 acts as a damsimilar to ringfifl. When theshaftrotates, oil is thrown out ,blithe flinger ring into the annular discharge chamber I06. A plurality of transfer ducts, I03 communicate withthe flywheel bearing discharge chamber I0 6, so that oil under, the pressure of centrifugal force will flow to'the left, as viewed in the drawing, into the annulardrainage chain ber ;86;; If the .flywheel'shouldibe stopped, as for.

example when pressoperations are suspended forgthe, night, oil clinging to thewalls of the chamber I06 will flow downwardly by gravity. That portion ofthe chamber whichisbrought to restnabovemthe axis of the shaft I0 will containa filmjofoil which, will flow downwardly. An an.- nular bead H0 is formed on a, ring member H2 carried by the, flywheel. This bead forms a dripping point to the rightof the flinger. ring.

A flinger ring I42 secured. to they 4 tion when the flywheel is at rest. The slight amount of oil flowing down this surface will drip from the point H8 at the innermost end of the ring H2 and will flow into the drainage groove H4.

A ring I20 is secured to the flywheel adjacent to pillow block I6. It is provided at its inner surface with a plurality of grooves I22 adapted to act as drainage channels for the drainage of any oil thrown out by centrifugal force during rotation of the flywheel. This oil is adapted to overflow into the annular drainage chamber 86. In event oil by capillary action wets the surface I24, it will drip from the bead I26 into the groove I28, and flow around the groove to drain along the inclined surface. I30 into the drainage chamberBB whenever. the flywheel is at rest. When the flywheel is rotating the groove I32 formed in the pillow block will conduct the oil to the inclined surface I30, whence it flows to the drainage chamber 00.

It is. to be understood that the openings are so proportioned that. the drainage passageways are of larger area than the supply passageway, so that oil will always flow freely to drainage. For example, the height of the flinger ring is such that when the shaft is at rest oil will not flow over the top of the flinger ring but will drain around into the chamber 02. When the shaft I0 isrotating, oil is flung out by centrifugal force into chamber 82, whence it drains. After' the shaft has been rotating and is "then brought to rest, oil on theupper surface 0| of the groove 82 will flow. downwardly by. gravity. It is adapted todripfrom thebead I34 into a'drainage groove I36 formed in the ring I38 secured to the shaft I0; Thefdrainage groove drains into a collecting groove. I40, which empties into the groove 82, and thence. flows through the duct 84 to the drainage chaniberBfi.

Normally the drainage grooves H4, I20, and I30 handle. only minute quantities of oil, and we have found that the proportions of the grooves are'ampleto stop leakage in practice. There is a very small quantity of oil in the film in the drainage. groovev I36 which. may be thrown out by centrifugal force when the shaft I 0 again rotates after a period of rest. This is collected by the groove I40 and drained to the groove 82 through draina e slot I4I. There may be a slight amount of oil that .runs downthe outer surface of groove I40. This'drips. off the bead I35 and flows back tothegro'oveII36 when the shaft is at rest.

The construction just described is also applied to, the'bearing I4, in which a flingr ring I42 is adapted to act asa dam when the shaft is at rest, and to throw oil outwardly by centrifugal force when the shaft I0 is rotating. The member I4} is carried by the pillow block 20, and is provided. witha groove I40 and formed with a pair of heads I and IE0. A drainage groove I52 is formed in the shaft and performs the same function as grooves I30,- I28, and H4, just described. Oil 001- lecting 'in the groove I46 drainsthrough slot I45 to the drainage channel 96. V

In operation oil is supplied under pressure through ducts liand' QZ; The oil from duct 76 flows into the annular chamber I8 and then to the left through the interstices between the bearing rollers sfi and the bearing rollers 34. When the clutch is not engaged, theshaft I0 will not be rotating, and-theringan will act as a dam so that the oil will be directed downwardly into the annularchamber. '82,; and flow to, the right introduced through duct 92. is stationary, the ring I42 acts as a dam, preventthence through. the drainage channel 88 through pipe 90. Oil will also flow from the annular chamber I8 to the right, through the annular space I00, past the bearing rollers 45, through the space between rings 52 and 54, past the bearing rollers and will be constrained by fiinger ring I02 acting as a dam intothe annular chamber I06, whence it drainsthrough channel I08 into the drainage chamber 86. When the flywheel is stopped, as for suspension of operations for a time, oil on the sides of the chamber I06, at the upper portion ofthe chamberin the position in which the flywheel is brought to rest, will flow downwardly and drip 01f bead III], and flow around the drainage channel II4 for passage through the drainage duct I08. Any oil which seeps by the annular grooves I22 will be thrown into the upper portion of annular chamber 86. and will seep down the side I24 thereof. This 011 will drip off bead I26 and flow around the drainage groove I28.

When the shaft Ill rotates, the ring 80 and the ring I02 act as fiinger rings and throw oil outwardly into the respective discharge chambers 82 and I06. Oil flowing from the side of the upper portion 8| of chamber 82 will drip from bead I34, and drain through drainage groove I36 which performs a function similar to drainage groove II4.

A similar construction is employed for the oil When the shaft I0 ing the oil from overflowing. When the shaft rotates, the ring I42 acts as a fiinger ring, diverting the oil to the drainage channel 96. Any oil which seeps down the upper inside surface of the member I44 attached to the pillow block 20 will drip off the bead I48 and flow around drainage groove I52 to the drain. The continuous flow of the oil through the bearings not only lubricates them, but helps carry away heat which is transmitted from the clutch and brake structures to the bearings, and some of the heat of friction at the bearings themselves as well. The continuous flow of lubricating oil insures that any foreign matter or dirt which might have become lodged in the assembly will flush clear of the bearings.

We eliminate the use of all oil seals by the provision of a labyrinth packing comprising fiinger rings and surfaces preventing the migration of oil past drip beads formed thereon. Collecting grooves are provided for the oil which drips from the drip beads, so that this oil may be returned to the system.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a lubricating system for flywheel bearings of pow-' er presses in which labyrinth packings making use of dynamic force and of gravity are employed, whereby no wear will be experienced, thus making it unnecessary to replacepacking materials periodically; We have provided a circulating oil system for lubricating the flywheel bearing of a power press in which a liquid lubricant is continuously circulated both during the working cycle of the press and during periods of rest, in a manner in which oil seals subject to wear are eliminated.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without deably mounted on the flywheel bearing, a, lubriparting from the spirit of our invention. It is,- therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to and described. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: I

1. A power press flywheel bearing. assembly including in combination apower press frame, a shaft bearing supported by the frame, a press shaft journaled in the shaft bearing, a flywheel bearing mounted on the shaft, a flywheel rotatcant supply chamber carried by the frame, means for introducing lubricant into the supply chamber, means providing communication between the lubricant supp chamber and the shaft and flywheel bearin'gs, an annular lubricant discharge chamber positioned adjacent the shaft bearing, an annular lubricant discharge chamber positioned adjacent the flywheel bearing, a drainage chamber carried by the frame, means providing communication between the shaft bearing discharge chamber and the drainage chamber, means providing communication between the flywheel bearing discharge chamber and the drainage chamber, a ring mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith-adjacent the shaft bearing discharge chamber adapted to act as a dam when the shaft is stationary and as a fiinger ring when the shaft is rotating to direct lubricant into the annular discharge chamber, and'a second ring mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith adjacent the flywheel bearing discharge chamber adapted to act as a dam when the shaft is stationary and as a fiinger ring when the shaft is rotating todirect lubricant into the flywheel bearing discharge chamber.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 in which the side wall of the shaft bearing discharge chamber is formed with a drip bead, means forming a drainage channel positioned below said drip bead adapted to drain lubricant falling from the drip head to the shaft bearing discharge chamber.

3. An assembly as in claim 1 in which the flywheel bearing lubricant discharge chamber is formed with a, dripbead, means forming a drainage channel positioned below said drip bead adapted to drain lubricant falling from the drip head to the flywheel bearing discharge chamber.

4. An assembly as in claim 1 in which said drainage chamber is annular in form, a ring secured to the flywheel of the press extending toward said drainage chamber, said ring being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced grooves along its surface adjacent the axis of rotation of the flywheel, said grooves being adapted to prevent migration of lubricant.

5. An assembly as in claim 1 in which said drainage chamber is annular in form, a ring secured to the flywheel of the press extending toward said drainage chamber, said ring being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced grooves along its surface adjacent the axis of rotation of the flywheel, said grooves being adapted to prevent migration of lubricant, the upper portion of said drainage chamber being formed with a drip bead and a drainage groove formed upon the ring adapted to drain lubricant falling from 7 the specific details shown 7 ablyv'mountedz onlthefiywheelbearing, a. lubricant supply chamber carried. by-theframe, means for introducing lubricant intothe. supply chamber, means providing communication between thembricantsupply chamber andthe flywheel bearin an annular lubricant discharge chamber. positioneli adjacent. the flywheel bearing, a drainage chamber carried by the frame, means proaiding communication between the flywheel hear,-

ing discharge chamber and the: drainagev chamben andva ringimountecl on the; shaft for-rotation therewith adjacentthe flywheel bearing discharge sham-hen adapted to, act: asa dam when the shaft is. stationary and as aflingerring whenthe: shaft 8 is: rotating.- the direct lubricant H1150, the flywheel bearingrdischargezchamber:

PHIIJQ H. DANDY? VA'SIIJ. GEORGEFFI REFERENCE S'j CITED The following; referencesrarefof reco1=d. in the file ofthis patent: v r e I UNITED STATESPATENTS: Number- Name: Bate 1,385,906 Crutchfield Ju1y'26,- .1921 1430127 Kronenbergr Nov. 4;.192'1 

